1 Ten-year-old Tommy sat on his front steps with his mother. He was quiet. Tommy was thinking. He wanted a pet. He asked his mother if he could take home a cat from the pet store.2 "No cats," said his mother. ‘We must follow the rules. We cannot have any cats or dogs in our apartment."3 "What about a bird? Could I have a bird?" Tommy asked. "Pat has a parrot. It stays in a cage in Pat's front room. I would like to have a parrot like Pat."4 "No, Tommy, a parrot is not what we want. We need a pet that is quiet. A parrot would not be quiet," said his mother.5 "What about a rat?" asked Tommy. "A rat would be quiet."6 "A rat?" asked his mother. "I do not think I would like to have a rat living in my apartment. No, I do not think you should get a rat. Let's try to think of another pet."7 Tommy thought and thought. He really wanted a pet.8 "What kind of pet could I get that would be quiet?" Tommy thought to himself. "I cannot keep a cat. I cannot keep a parrot. I cannot keep a rat. What kind of pet can I keep?" he wondered.9 His mother thought, too. She sat by Tommy on the steps. Tommy and his mother were quiet. They both thought about pets.